By Rich Chrampanis
RED BANK – A torn labrum is a pitcher’s most feared injury. It’s ended many careers at every level of baseball. For Middletown South senior Jack Lisowski the dreaded injury wiped out his junior season and threatened the remainder of his high school career.
When the senior toed the rubber at Count Basie Park in the fifth inning of Middletown South’s game against Red Bank Catholic Saturday afternoon, that itself should have been a victory. But the lefty was looking to do more than simply get on the mound. Getting the ball in a 1-1 game against a Shore Conference power is a heck of a way to start your senior season, but when you factor in nine months of intense rehabilitation and the uncertainty of not having pitched in well over a year, the pressure was cranked up a notch.
Lisowski’s perseverance served him well during a roller coaster relief appearance. Two hard hit balls in the fifth inning were handled by Eagles outfielders to keep the game tied at one. Middletown South would put together a four-run sixth inning making it a 5-1 game, but Lisowski needed to get six outs against one of the Shore’s most feared lineups to secure a statement victory.
RBC threatened in the sixth with two runners on. One base hit could have tightened the game in a hurry, but Lisowski beared down and got back-to-back strikeouts. Then with the bases loaded, he induced a ground ball to third that Chris O’Connor fired to first to get out of the jam. Lisowski pumped his fists as he strode to the dugout. There was still one more big mountain to climb.
In the seventh, RBC was primed to spoil the comeback story. After getting the first out, Lisowski saw Shane Panzini hit a grounder to third that went under the glove of O’Connor and into left field. Two runs sprinted home and all of the sudden RBC brought the winning run to the plate. Once again, Lisowski dug in and delivered. Two straight strikeouts ended the game and preserved a 5-3 Middletown South win. Liskowski pitched two and two-thirds innings striking out four and the two runs he surrendered were unearned.
“Moments like this, this is what you live for,” Lisowski said following the mound. “Tough year last year rehabbing, nine months of recovery. I finally got on the mound this March. I was just trying to do my job which is throw strikes and get outs.”
His teammates call him “Ski” and there were plenty of Skis shouted from the dugout throughout the final three innings. During his entire junior season, Jack was a fixture in the Middletown South dugout with his arm in a sling rooting on his teammates despite not being able to contribute on the field. More than anything, he simply wanted to come through for his team in a big spot.
“I love the adrenaline. I love moments like this,” Lisowski said. “I feel like I pitch better under pressure. Hopefully, I did my job today. It was a great team win all around.”
It is quite a comeback story, but for Jack Lisowski he hopes it’s only the beginning of a memorable senior season.
